System for removing obstructions to the flow of fluid in the earth strata adjacent to wells



naires srarns 'rarest carica.

BENJAMIN 'FULTON GARDNER, 0F CHICAGO, ILLIIIIOIS.

SYSTEM FOR REMOVING OBSTBUCTIONSTO THE FLOW OF FLUID IN THE EARTHSpecicaton of Letters Patent.

STRATA ADJ' AGENT T0 WELLS.

Patented Mar.l 29, 192i.

Application filed July l, 1920. Serial No. 393,436.

To allfwhm t my concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN FULTON GARDNER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

siding at 4315 Drexel Boulevard, Chicago,

in the county'of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented a certain new and useful lmprovement in Systems forRemoving3 Obstructions to the Flow of Fluid in the arth Strata Adjacentto Wells, of which the follow-ing is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a system' for removingobstructions to the ow of fluids in 'earth strata, and my object f/ isto provide means by which an electric current of relatively high voltagecan be maintained in a predetermined oil, gas, sulfur or other mineralbearing strata for the purpose of producingelectrical effects therein.

There are inventions -for which patents have been granted for methods,systems and devicesfor removing the obstructions to the 'ow of oil inoil wells. Where heat has been employed. to liquey the parailin,asphaltum or other gummy residue of petroleum, it merely resulted incleansing the bore'o the well and the inclosing rock for a distancelimited to the heat generating capacity of a vheater adapted to enterthe bore of a well and to be submerged in cooling fluids. Prir smarilythe object of my invention is to accomplish all that it was possible todo by the old methods and by an enlarged system to comprise a pluralityof wells in one operation; to electrically heat and produce otherelectrical effectsthe expansion of gasin the territory between andadjacent tooil and 40 gas wells.

`for removing obstructions to the flow of fluid in the earth stratadesigned in accordance with the invention. y

Referring to the` drawing A., designates the bore of a well, as for examle an oil or gas well, a, the casing and a t e tubing or mine pipe of awell. B designates the bore of an adjacent well, b the casing and b thetubing of said adjacent well. C designates a source 'of relatively highpotential such as an electric dynamo. The circuit per se, is

designated by c, from the positive side of brush oi' the dynamo to thewell andthence, as illustrated by a dotted line, to the groundedheater-electrode, D, located at the bottom of the well. The circuit fromwell A through the earth strata to the adjacent well B is indicated byarrows and connected to the grounded electrode D', from said electrodethrough the insulated circuit c to the negative brush of the dynamo orother source of potential.

It will be observed the two wells and the strata between them areelectrically connected in series.

The operation of my improved system for vremoving obstructions to theflow of iiuids in earthl strata is as follows:

An electric current of suiiicient voltage to overcome whateverresistance there may be in the circuit described to maintain a wattoutputpower, to increase the temperature at the bottom of said well andin thestrata between said wells to a degree suiicient to liquefyparaffin, asphaltum and other obstructing residue of petroleum and toincrease the gas pressure by heat, thereby forcing or blowing movabledetritus from out the interstices and crevices of the rock adj acent tosaid wells.

The wire circuits from the source of potential or dynamo to the groundedelectrode D, is insulated for a high potential and threaded through thetubing or mine pipe to the electrodes grounded to the metal tubing,which is likewise grounded by the fluid and earth. if desirable,resister elements may be in circuit and connected to the groundedelectrodes. As the electric current passes. through and from the metaltubing of the initial well to and through the tubing of the adjacentwell, it is essential to use alternating electric current as directcurrent would produce electrolysis in iron tubing and in time punctureit, causing leakage.

" Oil is a dieletric of high efficiency and used for insulating currentsof high potential but water and salt water are conducting i'luids anduniversally found at the bottom of dee Wells @if the characterdescribed. Water is :decomposed and is easily heated tothe boiling pointby conducting an electric current through the fluid. The water at atemperature of 212 F., will impart suicient heat to the superimposedstrata to melt paralin, etc. Gas is likewise a conductor of electricitybut improved system will cause the gas to exI pand and as a result theWell will blow This effect I have heretofore produced with other methodsof heating'wells with electricity and for which I was granted patents.

While I have described in considerable detail one specific embodiment ofmy linvention. it will be understood that this is illustrative only, andfor the purpose of making the invention more clear, and that I do notregard the invention as /limited to these details, nor any of them,except in so far as such limitations are included within the terms ofthe accompanying claims in which it is my intention to claim all novelty1nherent in my invention as 'broadly as is permimible in view of theprior art.

What I claim is:

1. In a system of the class described means for liquefying paraffin andsimilar gummy residue in'oil bearing strata, said means comprisingelectrodes located within the tubing of a plurality of oil im and meansto connect said electrodes in series whereby electric current will becaused to pass from one well to adjacent wells.

'2. .In a system of the class described electrodes Withinthe bore and atthe bottom of the tubing in a plurality of oil wells said electrodesgrounded to said tubing and said tubing grounded to the earth and meanswhereby electric current is caused to pass from one electrode to anotherthereby reduc# ing obstructions to the How of fluid into said wells. v

3. In a system of the class described, electrodes comprising resisterparts, within and grounded to 'the bottom vof tubing submerged intluid'at the bottom ot oil wells, and means to electrically unite saidelectrodes within said wells in series whereby heat may be geIierated toliquefy indurated matter removing obstructing deposits to the fiow ofHuid into said wells.

4. In a system of the class described means to generate gas pressure byexpanding the gas in an oil bearing strata whereby the said generatedpressure will remove obstructing matter to the ow of Huid to wells insaid oil bearing strata, said means comprising combinedheater-electrodes located at the bottom of said wells and means tosimultaneously maintain an electric current in a series of saidheater-electrodes in a plurality4 of wells.

. 5. In a system of the class described means to increase thetemperature of water under oil bearing strata, thereby imparting aliquefying heat to-the indurated products of petroleum in thesuperimposed. oil bearing strata, said means comprising a source ofelectrical otential, circuits and submerged electrodes ocated in dierentwells.

6. In a system of the class described means to impart heat to oilbearing strata whereby the gas therein is expanded creating a force todislodge and liquefy the obstructing residue of petroleum, said meanscomprising a source of electric energy, circuits, submerged electrodesadapted to enter the bore of oil Well tubing and be lowered to vthebottom of said tubing and means to ground said electrodes to saidtubing, which is also rounded to the earth as bywater surroun ing saidtubing or by the bottom end of'said tubing resting upon the earth, aplurality of said electrodes in electrical connection distributed soIMLN. rf.

